6 Interesting Ways New Musicians Can Make a Name for Themselves

Becoming a good musician isn’t easy. It requires a lot of hard work, practice, and patience. Even if you reach the level of a “professional musician,” that doesn’t guarantee you great success. There are many talented musicians in the world who never managed to make a name for themselves.

The music market is simply saturated with artists and bands of all styles, and most of their music is available online. This makes it incredibly challenging to catch the attention of managers, producers, or labels and get them interested in your music, no matter the genre.

In this crowd of artists and music to choose from, standing out and grabbing attention can be extremely difficult. That’s why we’ve put together some advice on how to break through, as you’ll also need business skills to navigate everything that can help you succeed as a musician.

1. Be Creative with Your Live Performances

One way to stand out and get people talking about you is to make your concerts memorable. While it’s important to sound good live and showcase your musical abilities, adding some showmanship to your performance can make it even more entertaining.

You’re not just a musician—you’re also a performer. If you can energize the crowd, they’ll enjoy your concerts more and remember them for longer. Start with having a unique image that represents you and serves as your personal brand.

It’s essential to command the stage, exuding confidence and showing you’re not afraid to own your style. This is the only way to earn respect as a musician.

Connect with the audience: talk to them, encourage them to clap, jump, or sing along. Create a routine with your band members and do something interesting that leaves a lasting impression. However, make sure the show aspect doesn’t compromise the quality of your performance. The most important thing is to sound great

2. Blog from the Heart

Many musicians have gained attention through blogging. If you think you have something meaningful to say about your music, experiences, knowledge, gear, gigs, or anything music-related, consider starting a blog. Of course, you’ll also need good writing skills to pull it off.

The key is to avoid writing directly about your band or material—it can come off as self-promotional and turn people away. Instead, focus on topics that interest a broad audience. Once you’ve built a following, you can subtly promote your brand as an artist.

Keep it simple and brief. Write as if you were talking to someone in real life, and be yourself. Adopt a casual tone, like sending letters to friends. Including personal anecdotes from your daily life can help you connect with readers and make them more interested in your stories. Once you have an audience, you can start promoting your music casually at the end of your posts.

3. Collaborate with Other Musicians

Building valuable connections is crucial. To get noticed, you need to engage with the music community.

Meet and connect with fellow musicians, and try collaborating on mutual projects. This can not only help you gain visibility (especially if they’re already established) but also push you to grow musically. Who knows, it might even inspire new material.

Fans of one artist often look into their collaborations, wanting to discover similar artists. That’s how music works—people want to explore and enjoy related sounds.

Reach out to other musicians, even if you don’t know them personally. Send them your work and wait for their response. While it won’t always be easy, once someone appreciates your talent, it could lead to better connections and opportunities to create something that could launch your career.

4. Vinyl Matters to Audiophiles

While digital music dominates today, there’s still a significant audience that appreciates the sound of vinyl and prefers listening to analog music. Vinyl isn’t dead, and there’s a thriving community that values it.

If you create authentic music, play your instruments, and write your own songs, vinyl enthusiasts could be your target audience. These are people who love production, respect composers, and seek quality music.

More people are rediscovering vinyl as they realize it offers a richer listening experience. This is something to consider, as selling vinyl could be a profitable venture for you.

5. Build a Strong Visual Presence

In today’s competitive music scene, standing out is crucial, and a strong visual identity is key. Your on-stage presence and your band’s overall image (if you’re in one) should align with your story.

Make sure your promotional materials—photos, logos, flyers—grab people’s attention and communicate that your work is worth checking out. Your website, album covers, and stage visuals can attract potential listeners who might enjoy your music.

For many people, visuals are their first impression of an artist. A compelling image can encourage them to take the next step—download your music, attend your concert, or learn more about you.

6. Share Your Story

As mentioned earlier, your singing or guitar skills must be top-notch, but people won’t care if there’s no story behind it.

For instance, Bon Jovi started playing at 13 after his neighbor gave him guitar lessons. However, when Bon Jovi showed up unprepared, the neighbor told him he was “a waste of time” and kicked him out. Bon Jovi learned his lesson and has been punctual and prepared ever since.

It’s important to present yourself as a musician with a story, sharing it through your music and in your conversations with fans, managers, and the media.

For many, a compelling story is their entry point. When they hear something intriguing, they pay attention to the artist and are open to their music. Incorporate your story into your live performances and let people connect with it.

While hardcore music fans may claim “it’s all about the music,” they still pay attention to these other elements—so should you. However, these elements are only for grabbing their attention. Great music is what will turn them into fans, so work hard on your songs and deliver a memorable musical experience.